Origin of the Arms

On the 24th June, 1633, Charles I confirmed the Peerage of Alexander Forbes as Lord Pitsligo.

In 1681, Alexander, 2nd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo was granted the Rosehearty Charter under the Great Seal of the Sovereign, and was given the right to use the arms of Lord Pitsligo on one side of the seal of the Burgh. This was used in various forms until 1929 when, following local government reorganisation, the Burgh was granted the Arms with which most people are familiar. These continued in use until 1975, when local Government reorganisation meant that the existing Burghs and their Councils were abolished, and in Rosehearty's case, the Council's functions were taken over by Banff and Buchan District Council and the right to use the Coat of Arms was lost.

Since 1995, Rosehearty Community Council has been working towards once again having a Coat of Arms and these efforts came to fruition in July, 1999, when the new Coat of Arms was granted to the Community Council.

Heraldic Description

The Coat of Arms are described in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland as follows:-

"Azure, two bears combatant Argent, muzzled Gules supporting between their paws a rose of the Second barbed and seeded Proper." Above the shield is placed a Coronet appropriate to a statutory Community Council "a circlet richly chased from which is issuant four thistle leaves (one and two halves visible) and four pine cones (two visible) Or, and in an Escrol the Motto "Tyauve Awa' Rosehearty"

The new Coat of Arms differs from the 1929 version is that the motto, instead of being in Latin, has the same sentiment expressed in Doric rather than Standard English, in keeping with the special identity of the North East of Scotland. The cinquefoil has been replaced by the Rosehearty Rose, and the "ears" on the shield have been restored as shown on the Burgh Seal in use before 1929, which is unique in Scottish Heraldry today.

Presentation of the Arms

The public is asked to assemble in the Square at 2.30pm for the Parade and Official Ceremony which will commence at 3.00pm The various organisations of Rosehearty, headed by the Hydro-Electric Buchan Pipe Band, will proceed from the Church into the Square, where invited dignitaries and guests will be seated. Charles Thomson, the longest serving Council Member, will welcome everyone and Charles Burnett, Ross Herald of Arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon will proclaim the Grant of Arms, and then present the Letters Patent to Mrs. June Whyte, Deputy Chair of the Community Council. A flag bearing the Coat of Arms will be blessed by the Minister, Dr. Ian Thom, then raised by a senior member of the Boy's Brigade. The salute will be taken by Angus Farquharson OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, as the parade moves off back towards the Church, where it will disband.

The use of the Arms

Heraldry is essentially about identity and it is hoped that the restoration of the use of the Coat of Arms will help to reinforce the identity of Rosehearty as a community in its own right, particularly as separate from Fraserburgh whose character and history are different from our own. In recent years there has been a trend toward small communities being seen as a part of the larger settlements in Aberdeenshire and in this millennial year the hope is that today's ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era for Rosehearty.

The new flag will be flown on those occasions important in Rosehearty's calendar.

Programme Scans
Below are scans of the programme.